The Aidan O'Brien colt is now favourite for July's Group One race
Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher has been the subject of an ante-post gamble for July's Coral Eclipse. The son of Galileo looked set to follow in his sire’s footsteps in landing the Epsom on Saturday only to be denied by 40/1 shot Wings Of Eagles who flew home to deny Ryan Moore’s mount in the shadow of the post.
Having looked the winner from a furlong out, following what looked a race-winning turn of foot, the 3yo was just outstayed by his less-fancied stablemate, suggesting that the 1m 4f trip perhaps stretched the stamina of the runner-up.
Did anyone have it? Wings Of Eagles was the biggest-priced Derby winner since 1974. Full story > https://t.co/MMKGUgtm6M pic.twitter.com/NqTdU8eInC
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 3, 2017
O’Brien said after Saturday’s Classic that the Coral Eclipse over 1m 2f was an option he was 'considering' and it appears bookies and punters alike have taken note with the Ballydoyle colt cut to as short as 4/1 favourite for the Group 1 having been as big as 20/1 before Saturday’s race.
Since the end of Saturday’s Derby just under 68% if all bets in the ante-post market for the Eclipse have been on Cliffs Of Moher, accounting for 74% of all stakes.
Three year-olds have won the last two runnings of the Sandown race with Derby winners Golden Horn and Sea The Stars following up their Derby wins with victories. O’Brien’s last winner in the race was back in 2011 with five year-old So You Think. In total, the Irish supremo has won the race five times including three times with three year-olds.
